Nedorost Has Fast Recovery After Surgery

Competition Forcenterspot Is Heating Up

CORAL SPRINGS — As if there wasn't enough competition for the No. 2 center position, it's looking like Vaclav Nedorost could be ready for the start of the Panthers' season.

Nedorost, 21, who was acquired from Colorado in a trade involving Peter Worrell in July, was expected to be out until late November after surgery on both shoulders.

But General Manager Rick Dudley said Wednesday that Nedorost "is way ahead of schedule and might be ready to start the year."

Dudley said, "What has impressed me as much as anything since he's come here is his drive. He's worked unbelievably hard to get himself ready. He wants to get the shoulders healthy quickly, and he wants to show the world he can be a top player in the NHL."

Nedorost had been considered one of Colorado's top prospects since being drafted 14th in 2000, but playing behind Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic slowed his development. He still cracked Colorado's deep lineup as a 19-year-old and split time the past two seasons between Colorado (13 points in 67 games) and AHL Hershey.

Competition for the Panthers' No. 2 center spot should be intense. Matt Cullen has the inside track because he's on a one-way contract, meaning he'd have to be paid his NHL salary ($1.75 million) in the minors, but Stephen Weiss, unsigned Nathan Horton and Marcus Nilson also are candidates.

Weiss added 10 pounds of muscle and has looked good during the team's optional skates the past three weeks.

"It's going to be a heck of a competition," Dudley said. "The good part is we have some people like Nilson and Horton who can play more than one position, but it creates a situation throughout the forwards that you better be ready."

Dudley feels Nedorost is ready to make an impact.

"He's at a point now where he can take the next step and play regularly in the league," Dudley said. "I think he's one who is capable physically and mentally."

Nedorost should get a much better chance in Florida than in Colorado, where he played sparingly and never on special teams.

"He was not put in a position where a player of his skill level is used to being put in," Dudley said. "But the positive side to it is he learned how hard players like Forsberg and Sakic work to be a star. Just watching him work to get back, that has clearly been good for him."

For the past two weeks, Nedorost and defenseman Lukas Krajicek, also returning from offseason shoulder surgery, have been skated hard by trainer Dave Boyer after the rest of their teammates have left the ice. But Nedorost could soon be skating alone.

The Panthers' rookies reported Wednesday and will take their physicals this morning. If Krajicek is medically cleared for contact, he'll be on the ice for the first day of rookie camp Friday morning.

But Nedorost feels he might not be that far behind.

"The shoulders are getting stronger and getting better," he said. "Hopefully it keeps going the same way and I can be ready for the season. I think I'll get more of a chance here and prove to everybody I can play hockey."

Pilon re-injures wrist

Veteran defenseman Rich Pilon, who accepted a tryout with the Panthers, will not report to camp Sept. 11 because he re-injured his wrist, which has kept him out of action since October 2001.

Dudley said he's still "scouring" for another veteran, but added, "I really like what I've seen so far from [19-year veteran Todd Gill]." ...

The Panthers re-signed wingers Kristian Huselius and Juraj Kolnik and defenseman Michel Periard, assuring the team of no holdouts.

Directions: Take Sawgrass Expressway to Sample Road exit. Take first right into Coral Springs Sportsplex. Incredible Ice is on the left.

Training camp: Physicals and off-ice testing, Sept. 11; First day on the ice, Sept. 12.

Hockeyfest: At Office Depot Center, Sept. 13. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for kids 12 and younger. Fans who bring an August or September 2003 receipt from any Office Depot location for a purchase of $10 or more receive free admission for two. Single-game tickets go on sale for the first time.